British High Commission, Ottawa

British High Commission, Ottawa

The High Commission building in Ottawa
Location Downtown Ottawa
Address 80 Elgin Street
High Commissioner Howard Drake, OBE[1]

The British High Commission in Ottawa is the main diplomatic mission of the United Kingdom in Canada. It is located at 80 Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa, across the street from the National Arts Centre and not far from Parliament Hill.

History

The current building was opened in 1964. Previously the site had been home to the Union Hotel, founded in the 1850s but demolished in 1962.

The High Commissioner's position was created in 1928 after the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and was the first such posting for Britain. The present High Commissioner is Howard Drake, appointed in June 2013.

The UK has Consulates-General in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. It has Honorary Consuls in St. John's, Halifax, Quebec City, and Winnipeg. The High Commission also represents the British Overseas Territories in Canada.

The High Commissioner resides at Earnscliffe, a manor on the Ottawa River.

See also

External links

Coordinates: 45°25′21″N 75°41′42″W / 45.422598°N 75.694894°W

References